Protective container

ABSTRACT

A container comprising a first tubular body defining a fastening structure and a seam that extends across an end wall, and at least one depressed channel formed in the end wall. The seam is located in the depressed channel so as to separate the seam from the contents of the container. In an embodiment, there is a second tubular body secured to the first tubular body by a fastening structure that cooperates with the fastening structure of the first tubular body. The second tubular body also has a seam that extends across a wall that is located in a depressed channel so as to separate the seam from the contents of the container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to containers, and in particular, to containers for documents and other products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known in the art to store, transport, or deliver objects in closed containers made of a substantially rigid material in order to protect the objects from damage. Frequently, such containers are used to ship documents, wall paper, fabrics, or other paper goods. Plastic is often the material of choice for these containers because plastic containers are rigid and water resistant and can be manufactured relatively easily and inexpensively, such as by a blow molding process. A disadvantage of blow molded containers, however, is that during the molding process, dimples tend to form at the mold seams. Dimples form when the mold is closed, pinching excess plastic in the mold and forcing it to the inside of the container. In applications where the container is used to store documents or other products with sensitive or easily damaged edges, dimples located on the interior of the container have been found to damage the documents or products. Particularly, dimples have been found to abrade the edges of the documents or products. In the prior art, dimples were removed by various methods including grinding and deburring. However, these processes contributed to the cost and difficulty in manufacturing the container. Moreover, some container shapes did not readily admit to such processes. Thus, there was a need for a container for shipping documents or products wherein dimples would protect the edges of the products contained therein from damage.

In accordance with the presently disclosed invention, dimples are not removed. Instead, dimples are isolated from the major surface of the end wall of the container by off-setting the mold seam of the container longitudinally away from the major surface of said end wall. In this way, the dimples are held apart from the plane of the major surface of said end wall, thus protecting the documents or products contained therein. Thus, the claimed invention provides a container that has end walls wherein dimples that extend inwardly into the container do not contact the documents or products contained therein. The invention affords a protective container that is inexpensive, easy to manufacture, and that does not abrade the edges of documents and other materials or products stored therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment, the present invention is directed to a container comprising at least one tubular body and a first end wall. The at least one tubular body has first and second ends. In an example, the first end defines a fastening structure. The first end wall is integrally connected to and closes the second end of the tubular body. The first end wall defines a major surface that faces the interior of the tubular body, meets a sidewall of the first tubular body, and also defines at least one channel. The at least one channel has a bottom surface that is offset from the major surface of the end wall in a direction that extends longitudinally away from the first tubular body. The channel includes a seam of the end wall such that the seam is located within the channel and is longitudinally offset from the major surface of the end wall. In this way, the contents of the container are protected by locating the seam and associated dimples within the channel and away from the major surface of the end wall so that documents or products contained therein are protected because they do not contact the seam and associated dimples.

In another embodiment, the container of the present invention further comprises a second tubular body and a second end wall. The second tubular body also has first and second ends. The first end of second tubular body defines a fastening structure that cooperates with the fastening structure of the first tubular body to selectively secure the first end of the first tubular structure together with the first end of the second tubular structure. The second end wall is integrally connected to and closes the second end of the second tubular body. The second end wall defines a major surface that faces the interior of the second tubular body, meets a sidewall of the second tubular body, and also defines at least one channel. The channel has a bottom surface that is offset from the major surface of the second end wall in a direction that extends longitudinally away from the second tubular body. As described above, the channel includes a seam of the end wall such that the seam is located within the channel and is longitudinally offset from the major surface of the end wall so as to protect documents or products stored within the claimed container, as described above.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container for holding documents and other products or materials that has a smooth interior surface.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container for holding documents or other products or materials that has a seam that is offset from the major surface of the end wall so as to minimize damage to the contents of the container caused by mold seams having dimples.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive container that is easy to manufacture while also being suitable for holding documents and other products.

Other features, advantages, and objects of the presently disclosed invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as a description of a presently preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of an embodiment of the claimed container.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an example of an embodiment of the claimed container, shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of an example of an embodiment of the claimed container, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an example of an embodiment of the claimed container shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, cut perpendicular to the mold seam line along line 4-4 shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an example of an embodiment of the claimed container shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, cut through the mold seam line along line 5-5 shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment, the container 100 of the claimed invention is manufactured according to a method of manufacture for plastic, such as by blow molding. In examples, the plastic may be a polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene. However, other materials such as metals could also be used for the claimed container. Additionally, in the examples shown herein, the container 100 is shown as being of cylindrical cross-section, although the container could be of any cross-sectional shape, such as for example, square, hexagonal, rectangular, or triangular, as long as the shape does not interfere with the intended function of the claimed container. In examples, the diameter of the container 100 ranges from about 25 mm to about 160 mm, and in preferred examples the diameter ranges from about 48 to about 105 mm, although the container 100 may be of any diameter that does not interfere with the function of the claimed invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the container 100 of the claimed invention comprises at least one tubular body 10 a in the general shape of a right circular cylinder and a first end wall 20 a. The first tubular body 10 a has first and second ends 12 a, 14 a. First tubular body 10 a is defined along longitudinal axis 50. In an example, the first end 12 a of the first tubular body 10 a defines a fastening structure 16 a. Although the Figures herein show the fastening structures 16 a, 16 b as a plurality of cooperating helical threads, other types of fastening structures such as clamps, detents, rings, and the like could also be used. In the examples shown, helical threads on first tubular body 10 a cooperate with helical threads on second tubular body 10 b, described below, to secure the first ends 12 a, 12 b of the tubular bodies 10 a, 10 b together to create the closed container 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

There is a first end wall 20 a integrally connected to the second end 14 a of the first tubular body 10 a that closes the second end 14 a of first tubular body 10 a. The first end wall 20 a defines a substantially smooth major surface 22 a that faces the interior of the first tubular body 10 a. The major surface 22 a meets a sidewall 25 a of the first tubular body, as shown in FIG. 1. The major surface 22 a is capable of coming into contact with the documents or products contained within the container.

As shown in FIG. 1, the end wall 20 a also defines at least one channel 24 a. The channel 24 a has a bottom surface 28 a that is offset from the major surface 22 a of the end wall 20 a in a direction that extends longitudinally away from the first tubular body 10 a. In examples, each channel 24 a has a depth ranging from about 5 mm to about 13 mm, and preferably from about 7 mm to about 10 mm, and a width ranging from about 9 mm to about 18 mm, and preferably from about 10 mm to about 12 mm. Preferably, each channel 24 a extends substantially across the entire diameter or width of the end wall 20 a, depending on the shape of container 100. FIG. 3, which shows an end view of an example of an embodiment of the claimed container 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, shows two depressed channels 24 a, 24 a′ on the end wall 20 a. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the channels 24 a, 24 a′ are arranged perpendicularly to each other and intersect substantially at their midpoints. However, the number and arrangement of the channels 24 a, 24 a′ may be varied according to the claimed invention, as long as the number and arrangement do not interfere with the purpose of the claimed invention. Additionally, although the examples shown herein show the channels 24 a, 24 a′ extending along the midlines of the end wall 20 a, the position of the channel is not limited as such and may be positioned anywhere on the end wall 20 a that a mold seam 26 a having dimples 26 c forms, as described below.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a first mold seam 26 a having dimples 26 c is formed on the end wall 20 a such that the seam 26 a and associated dimples are located within the channel 24 a. Dimples 26 c are formed during the manufacturing process when the mold is closed and excess plastic in the mold is pinched and forced to the inside of the container 100. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an example of an embodiment of the claimed container 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, cut perpendicular to the mold seam 26 a along line 4-4 shown in FIG. 3. As shown, the seam 26 a is located within the channel 24 a and is longitudinally offset from the major surface 22 a of the end wall 20 a. This position prevents the edges of documents or products from coming into contact with the mold seam 26 a having dimples (shown as 26 c), thereby minimizing damage to the edges of documents or products stored in the container 100. As described above, in examples, each channel 24 a has a depth ranging from about 5 mm to about 13 mm, and preferably from about 7 mm to about 10 mm. However, the depth of each channel 24 a must be deep enough that the dimples 26 c of the mold seam 26 a do not protrude out of channel 24 a and beyond the major surface 22 a of the end wall 20 a and into the interior of the first tubular body 10 a. See FIG. 4. In FIG. 5, which shows a cross-sectional view of an example of an embodiment of the claimed container 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, cut through the mold seam 26 a along line 5-5 shown in FIG. 3, the second channel 24 a′ does not have dimples 26 c positioned therein. Likewise, the second channel 24 b′ does not have dimples 26 c′ positioned therein.

In an embodiment, the claimed container further comprises a second tubular body 10 b. Second tubular body 10 b has first and second ends 12 b, 14 b. Second tubular body 10 b is also defined along longitudinal axis 50. The first end 12 b of the second tubular body 10 b defines a fastening structure 16 b that cooperates with the fastening structure 16 a on the first tubular body 10 a to selectively secure the first ends 12 a, 12 b of the first and second tubular structures 10 a, 10 b together. As described above, the fastening structure 16 b may be a plurality of helical threads (see FIGS. 1-5), clamps, detents, rings, or other fastening structures known to those skilled in the art.

The second tubular body 10 b also has a second end wall 20 b that is integrally connected to the second end 14 b of the second tubular body 10 b. The second end wall 20 b closes the second end 14 b of the second tubular body 10 b and defines a substantially smooth major surface 22 b that faces the interior of the second tubular body 10 b, as described above for the first tubular body 10 a. The major surface 22 b meets a sidewall 25 b of the second tubular body, as shown in FIG. 1.

The second end wall 20 b of the second tubular body 10 b also defines at least one channel 24 b. As described above, the at least one channel 24 b has a bottom surface 28 b that is offset from the major surface 22 b of the second end wall 20 b in a direction that extends longitudinally away from the second tubular body 10 b. The channel 24 b includes a seam 26 b of the second end wall 20 b such that the seam 26 b is located within the channel 24 b and is longitudinally offset from the major surface 22 b of the second end wall 20 b. The size, shape, and dimensions of the channels 24 b, 24 b′ on the end wall 20 b of the second tubular member 10 b are substantially identical to the channels 24 a, 24 a′ on the end wall 20 a of the first tubular member 10 a, described above. Optionally, as described above, the second end wall 20 b may define a second channel 24 b′ in its major surface 22 b.

While the foregoing has been set forth in considerable detail, it is to be understood that the drawings, detailed embodiments, and examples are presented for elucidation and not limitation. Design variations, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangements of parts, may be made but are within the principles of the invention. Those skilled in the art will realize that such changes or modifications of the invention or combinations of elements, variations, equivalents, or improvements therein are still within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A container comprising: a first tubular body having first and second ends; and a first end wall that is integrally connected to the second end of said first tubular body, said first end wall closing the second end of said first tubular body and defining a major surface that faces the interior of said tubular body, said end wall also defining at least one channel in said major surface, said channel having a bottom surface that is offset from the major surface of said end wall in a direction that extends longitudinally away from said first tubular body, said channel including a seam of said end wall such that said seam is located within said channel and is longitudinally offset from the major surface of said first end wall.
 2. A container as in claim 1 wherein the first end of said first tubular body defines a fastening structure, said container further comprising: a second tubular body having first and second ends, the first end of said second tubular body defining a fastening structure that cooperates with the fastening structure of said first tubular body to selectively secure the first end of said first tubular structure together with the first end of said second tubular structure; and a second end wall that is integrally connected to the second end of said second tubular body, said second end wall closing the second end of said second tubular body and defining a major surface that faces the interior of said tubular body, said second end wall also defining at least one channel having a bottom surface that is offset from the major surface of said second end wall in a direction that extends longitudinally away from said second tubular body, said channel including a seam of said second end wall such that said seam is located within said channel and is longitudinally offset from the major surface of said second end wall.
 3. A container comprising: a first tubular body having first and second ends, the first end of said first tubular body defining a first plurality of helical threads; a first end wall that is integrally connected to the second end of said first tubular body, said first end wall closing the second end of said first tubular body and defining a major surface that faces the interior of said first tubular body, said first end wall also defining at least one channel having a bottom surface that is offset from the major surface of said end wall in a direction that extends longitudinally away from said first tubular body, said channel including a seam of said end wall such that said seam is located within said channel and is longitudinally offset from the major surface of said first end wall; a second tubular body having first and second ends, the first end of said second tubular body defining a second plurality of helical threads that cooperates with the first plurality of helical threads of said first tubular body to selectively secure the first end of said first tubular body together with the first end of said second tubular body; and a second end wall that is integrally connected to the second end of said second tubular body, said second end wall closing the second end of said second tubular body and defining a major surface that faces the interior of said tubular body, said end wall also defining at least one channel having a bottom surface that is offset from the major surface of said second end wall in a direction that extends longitudinally away from said second tubular body, said channel including a seam of said second end wall such that said seam is located within said channel and is longitudinally offset from the major surface of said second end wall.
 4. A container as in any of claims 1-3 wherein said major surface of said first end wall meets a sidewall of said first tubular body and/or said major surface of said second end wall meets a sidewall of said second tubular body.
 5. A container as in any of claims 1-3 wherein at least one of said end walls further defines a second channel is said major surface of said end wall.
 6. A container as in claim 5 wherein said first and second channels are perpendicular to each other and intersect substantially at their midpoints.
 7. A container as in any of claims 1-3 wherein said first and second tubular bodies are cylindrical.
 8. A container as in claim 7 wherein a diameter of one of said tubular bodies ranges from about 25 mm to about 160 mm.
 9. A container as in any of claims 1-3 wherein a depth of one of said channels ranges from about 5 mm to about 13 mm.
 10. A container as in any of claims 1-3 wherein a width of one of said channels ranges from about 9 mm to about 18 mm.
 11. A container as in any of claims 1-3 wherein said container is made from plastic.
 12. A container as in any of claims 1-3 wherein said container is made from metal.
 13. A container as in any of claims 1-2 wherein said fastening means is one of the following: a. a plurality of helical threads; b. an end cap; c. a detent; or d. a clamp. 